10/15/26
Marketing project manager or AI? How to know what your team needs
By Abby Breckenridge
Read articleSpecialized partnership management recruitment
Talent that builds and scales strategic partnerships
With more than a decade of experience as a creative and recruiting agency working with leading tech companies, we understand how partnership teams operate and what makes a strong fit. We connect you with professionals who build relationships, structure programs, and drive measurable results.
Why partnership expertise matters in tech
Partnership roles require managing long-term relationships while aligning goals across organizations. In tech, where integrations, marketplaces, and alliances are constantly evolving, these roles are critical for structuring programs and coordinating stakeholders to ensure mutual success.
RECRUITING SERVICES FOR PARTNER MANAGEMENT ROLES
Partnership management roles we fill
Our recruiting agency has extensive networks of proven partnership pros across a range of roles, including:
Partnership leadership
- VP of partnerships
- Head of partnerships
- Director of partnerships
- Director of strategic alliances
Strategic and enterprise partnerships
- Strategic partnerships manager
- Senior partnerships manager
- Enterprise partnerships manager
- Global partnerships manager
- Technology partnerships manager
Channel and ecosystem partnerships
- Channel partnerships manager
- Alliance manager
- Partner manager
- ISV partnerships manager
- SI (systems integrator) partnerships manager
Partner programs and enablement
- Partner program manager
- Partner enablement manager
- Partner development manager
- Partner success manager
- Partner engagement manager
Partnership operations
- Partnership operations manager
- Partner operations manager
- Partnership operations analyst
- Ecosystem operations manager
Client spotlight
Microsoft Research Accelerator and Media teams
Microsoft Research needed expert creative, marketing, and events support to help showcase their cutting-edge research projects. 2A Works recruited exceptional contractors experienced in transforming complex technical subjects into engaging narratives.
Over time, this partnership has grown to include over 20 2A consultants in roles such as content writers, video editors, graphic designers, podcast producers, event managers, and project managers.
Thanks to a longstanding collaboration, along with excellent benefits and ongoing consultant support, 2A Works has achieved exceptional retention across the team. This consistency helps our consultants create engaging, high-quality content and run seamless events that showcase innovation at Microsoft Research.
Why choose 2A Works
Partnership expertise meets thoughtful recruiting
Partner program experience
We work closely with teams running partner programs and understand how these roles vary across organizations, from early-stage programs to more established alliances. That perspective helps us assess candidates based on how they manage partner relationships and define strategies to contribute to shared outcomes.
Consultative matchmaking
Partnership hiring requires understanding more than titles or past experience. We take the time to learn how your partner program operates, how success is measured, and how your team works, then match you with candidates who can operate effectively within that environment. The result is a smoother hiring process and stronger, longer-term fits.
A people-first philosophy
We build strong relationships across the partnerships community by treating people well, from first outreach through final offer and beyond. Our reputation, industry knowledge, and candidate-first approach help us connect you with partner professionals who are selective about where they work and trust us to guide their next move. For contract roles, we also offer standout benefits that help us attract and retain top-tier marketing talent.
A few of the clients we support
Collaboration that drives better teams
Client satisfaction
Overall experience
Agency communication
Candidate quality
Candidate diversity
Contracts extended or converted to full-time
2A feels like an extension of our team. We partnered with them to quickly transition and onboard eight contractors, and they delivered seamlessly in just a few weeks while also elevating the consultant experience and benefits.
A reliable partner with a deep understanding of our industry and hiring needs, 2A identified highly qualified candidates for our open roles and provided strong end-to-end support throughout the hiring process. The whole team truly values the partnership.
Jeremy C.
Content publishing manager, Microsoft Research
2A Works is a responsive and flexible partner, and I appreciate the level of support they provide to their consultants. It's clear they invest in the people they work with, and that commitment creates a positive experience for everyone involved. Their team is easy to work with, highly communicative, and provides experienced, high-quality talent.
Gerard M.
Partner program director, Microsoft AI Business Solutions (Modern Work + Business Applications)
We were facing an uphill battle to rebrand our organization, build a net-new website, and develop a marketing strategy that would tie everything together. Our consultant from 2A Works created a plan to point us in the right direction and worked super fast to get us ready for launch.
Jennifer S.
Executive director of continuing education, Bellevue College
How it works
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1. Tell us who you need
Tell us about your team structure, partners, and program goals, and what success looks like in the role.
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2. Evaluate your short list
Review the candidates we’ve handpicked to meet your specific needs.
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3. Interview your top picks
Select who you want to talk to and we’ll coordinate the rest.
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4. Make a selection
Choose the candidate(s) who best fit your team and goals.
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5. Welcome your new teammate
Work with your new collaborator to drive impact.
Hiring?
Frequently asked questions
What makes 2A Works different from other partnership recruiting agencies?
Alongside our recruiting work, our creative agency partners closely with tech companies running partner programs and alliances. That experience gives us a clear understanding of how partnership roles function and what strong performance looks like in these positions.
What types of partnership roles does your agency specialize in?
We support a range of roles across partnerships, alliances, and partner programs, including partnership managers, strategic alliances managers, partner program managers, and partner enablement roles.
How does your recruitment agency find talent that understands technology?
We focus on candidates who have experience working in tech environments, including those who have supported integrations, marketplaces, or partner ecosystems. We look for individuals who are comfortable collaborating across teams and organizations.
Do you offer both staffing and recruitment services?
Yes. We offer flexible contract staffing for short- and long-term needs, as well as direct hire recruiting for full-time roles. Whether you’re filling a short-term gap or building a long-term team, we can tailor our approach to fit your goals.
What are the benefits of working with a specialized partnerships recruiter instead of a general recruitment agency?
We’ve spent more than a decade recruiting for roles across the tech industry, and we hire for our own creative agency as well. That gives us a nuanced understanding of how partnership roles differ across companies and what to look for beyond titles or surface-level experience.
Can you help fill leadership roles?
Yes. We support leadership hiring across partnerships and alliances, including roles such as Head of Partnerships and Director of Alliances. We tailor our approach to leadership searches with additional consultation, careful scoping, and a targeted outreach strategy.
How fast can your recruitment company fill open roles?
Once we’ve aligned on the role and requirements, we typically present a shortlist of vetted candidates within two to 10 days. Timelines can vary based on role complexity and your internal hiring process.
What’s your replacement policy if a hire doesn’t work out?
If a placed candidate leaves or is not a fit within the first 90 days, we’ll replace them at no additional cost. You’ll continue working with the same recruiter to ensure consistency and a smooth handoff.
How does your recruitment agency vet candidates before shortlisting them for open client roles?
All shortlisted candidates are phone screened by our experienced recruiters to confirm their skills, background, communication abilities, and fit for the role. For partnership roles, we focus on how candidates manage relationships, coordinate with stakeholders, and contribute to partner program goals.
How does 2A Works recruit diverse talent?
We take a thoughtful, proactive approach to building diverse teams. That includes writing inclusive job descriptions, sourcing from diverse candidate networks, and actively reviewing our process to reduce bias. We also build long-term relationships with professionals from underrepresented backgrounds to expand access and representation across our talent pool.
What information do your recruiters need to get started?
To kick off a search, we’ll need details about the role’s responsibilities, required experience, target compensation, and whether it’s remote, hybrid, or in-person. We also work to understand your team’s workflow, brand voice, and goals, because the more context we have, the better equipped we are to find the right fit.